Your mother only? Your mother and mother-in-law only? Loved ones who are mothers? Any random mother? Any random female? Anyone at all?
In my area it seems that this phrase is reserved for your own mother only, or maybe also your mother-in-law, if the relationship is a good one. However I have heard of people in other areas wishing any mother a “happy mother’s day”, and companies offering token gifts (single flower, free coffee, etc) to any female of child-bearing age and older on the day.
Where are you, and who would you wish “happy mother’s day” to?
My wife and I send cards (since we are located on a different continent) to all of my mother, my mother-in-law and my step-mother-in-law (her stepmom) and, if we are organised enough (IOW rarely) my grandmother.
I only go out of my way to remember my Mom and my Granny. . . except for this year, because I got out of bed and went straight to work, and by the time I found time to call, it was far too late to call. I’ll give them a shout later today, and they won’t be offended. They live a ways away, so I can buy gifts anytime before now and next time I go home. My family are not mailers or phoners, it’s all about the visiting (in person).
I’ll generally throwout a HMD to any Mom’s I happen to run into, if I know they’re Moms and it crosses my mind. But, I don’t go out of my way. Maybe I would if I was a Mom, too.
My first customer’s first question Sunday was “Do you have kids?” I thought it was a bizarre question because she’s around once a week or so and pretty much never talks to me other than to order drinks. At first I was confused by her question, and then it sunk in. She got a HMD out of me.